On April 16th, Burton and District Summer League racing kicked off, with the first event, Run in the Forest, a five mile trail event, hosted by our friends from South Derbyshire Road Runners.

LRC fielded one of the largest teams on the day, with many newer members taking part in their first club race; there was a fabulous team spirit, with everyone’s achievement celebrated at the finish line. First club finisher was John Doyle (9th/ 30:22), with Morgan Bradley just behind (16th/ 30:56) and Owen Davies in third (30th/33:01). Hannah Stokes was first female home (12thF/ 35:57), with Sarah Hayman (16thF/37:58) and Lorraine Amos (19thF/38:29) just behind.

Congratulations to all our runners – John D, Morgan, Owen, Allan, Phill, Harry, Hannah, Tom, James, Sarah, Lorraine, John H, Emily, Vikki, Louise, Ruth, Sonia, Phil, Joanna, Helen, Claire, Ann, Marian, Laura, Vicki, Jane and Charlotte – on their performances.

A fabulous weekend was had at the Brighton Marathon weekend by a group of LRC members. Although we were scattered across city at different hotels, most of us enjoyed a pre-race meal together on the Saturday night. The Sunday started off cold with three club members taking part in the 10k. The course started and finished at Hove Lawns on the sea front and had a few cheeky inland uphill sections to make it more interesting. Ann Schwarzenbach was first home in a time of 1:01:34 followed by Jane Bradbury in 1:07:39 and Charlotte Wesley in 1:08:23. The ladies enjoyed posing on the podium after the race and the general friendly atmosphere.

The marathoners set off from Preston Park, inland from the sea front, from 10am as the day gradually warmed up. There was plenty of support along the route and the 10k finishers cheered them along during the later stages, together with family supporters. The course was challenging with hilly sections out to Roedean before coming back to the centre, passing the Pavilion and finishing along the coast at Hove Lawns.

The ladies did brilliantly with Louise Hinsley first home in 04:03:50 with Anna Sanders close behind in 04:08:10, both completing their first marathon. Next home was Helen King in 04:47:47. First time marathoners and fund raisers for local charity Shining Stars, Mandy Georgiou and Melissa Farmer, were next home in 05:02:11 and 05:02:12. Completing our set of fabulous runners was first timer Marian Lowther, supported by experienced marathoner Claire Wheat, both finishing in 05:25:47.

An amazing weekend was had by all: well organised races, friends to cheer you on and even sunshine! What could be better?

The spring race season is now well underway, and LRC members recorded some great performances at the popular and well-attended Stafford Half Marathon on March 12th. Out of a field of 1751 runners, club members Dan Floyd and Andrew Parkinson came home in 5th and 6th positions, in the fantastic times of 1:13:58 and 1:14:09 respectively. Jimmy Pickering, continuing his return to form, crossed the finish line only a few minutes behind, in 14th position (1:18:10).

Further club results are as follows: Steve Rivers (58th/1:24:35), Dave Sanders (63rd/1:25:24), Ed Foster (65th/1:25:49), James Coombes (86th/1:27:16), Phill Brindle (345th/ 1:41:19) and Martin Shortall (418th/1:44:41).

For some of these runners, it was their second race in a week, as they took part in the Fradley 10k the previous Sunday. Competitors in The Millennium Way Ultra race last weekend were allowed the week off!

There was a great turnout of Lichfield Running Club members at the ever-popular Fradley 10k, including both runners and enthusiastic supporters. Conditions were perfect as the 700 or so competitors lined up at the start, so it was a great day to achieve a distance PB over the flat, two-lap course, and many runners did just that!

First LRCer to cross the line was Morgan Bradley, in a brilliant time of 38:02 (30th), quickly followed by Konrad Wainaina (40:54/66th), and Alan Williams (41:43/85th). Women’s captain, Hannah Stokes finished in 43:39 (15th female); Ali Evans was second LRC woman home in 48:50 (32nd female).

Other club results were as follows: Phill (44:08), Matt (44:51), Tom (44:51), Stephen (45:15), Martin (45:35), Lawrence (47:04), Vikki (49:18), Steve (50:17), Joanna (51:46), Magdalene (54:55), Melissa (56:02), Mandy (56:04), Alan, (56.06) Liz (57:41), Ann (1:00:48), Pippa (1:01) and Vicki (1:03:00).

Brilliant performances by all who took part, including some returning after injury and others in their first ever race in the yellow vest!

Lichfield Running Club celebrated members’ achievements over the past year at our annual presentation and social event. It’s also the club’s 40th anniversary in 2023, which gave us another reason to party! We were particularly pleased to welcome founder member and former president, Dave Nason, to the event, along with former chairman, Alan Pritchard. Around 50 members gathered at Darnford Moors Golf Club and were treated to a wonderful evening of food, conversation and congratulations!

Competition winners were as follows:

Men’s Grand Prix
1st: Dave Sanders
2nd: Owen Davies
3rd: Gareth Stubbs

Women’s Grand Prix
1st: Marian Lowther
2nd: Kim Leary
3rd: Alexandria Evans

Bob Connor Trophy (awarded for best age graded performance in the Grand Prix)
1st: Gareth Stubbs
2nd: Dave Sanders
3rd: Owen Davies

Time Trial Series
1st: Ryan Simms
2nd: Nick Parkes
3rd: Owen Davies

Cross Country Series
1st: Nick Parkes
2nd: John Doyle
3rd: Stephen Howard

In addition to these, two awards are given annually: The Dave Nason Trophy for Outstanding Contribution to the club and the Mike Green Trophy for Outstanding Running Achievement. These are decided by members’ votes and were awarded this year to outgoing club secretary, Ann Schwarzenbach and Marian Lowther respectively. Huge congratulations to all our winners! We have welcomed many new members recently, and are looking forward to seeing them taking part in the competitions over the coming year!

The penultimate Grand Prix event of the season, Tamworth 10k, took place on Sunday 15th October, on a two lap route, starting and finishing in the Castle Grounds. With competition for the 2022 club trophies hotting up, six club members took to the course in search of points.

First club member to cross the line (and performing really well in his first year of competition) was Konrad Wainana, in 16th place overall, in a time of 39:27. Konrad was quickly followed home by Owen Davis in 21st (40:32) and Gareth Stubbs (26th – 41:24). Beckie Head-Stubbs was first club female (14th F/106th – 49:52); then came Kim Leary (31st F/158th – 55:10) and Jane Bradbury (78th F/246 – 1:03:39), continuing her return from injury.

Eleven LRC members took part in this year’s London Marathon; there are some excellent achievements to report.

First male competitor to cross the finish line was Dan Floyd, in the fantastic time of 2:36:26. Always aiming high, Dan has set his sights on a sub 2:30 for the distance, so continues to work towards this goal!

Richard Bravington, in his first run as an LRCer for a little while, finished in 2:47:48, despite having to dig deep at mile 18. Brilliant work, Richard!

Next home were Stephen Rivers (2:55:49), Tom Hodgson (3:03:34) and (veteran of many marathons!) Phil Sutcliffe (3:29:02). Hermione Green was our first female finisher, in 3:33:22, in her first time at this event, followed by Tom Widdowson in 3:39:38.

Ruth Kennedy-Green, Radhika McCathie and Hazel Moore, having trained together, supported each other throughout the race, crossing the line in the same time. (4:43:13).

And Claire Wheat, competing in her third London marathon, this time with daughter, Jessie, and running in aid of MS-UK, finished in 5:29:34. As she achieved the ‘good for age’ qualifying time once again, we’re sure she’ll be back next year!

Huge well done to all our runners! Great to see so many smiling faces!

Another event popular amongst LRC members returned over the weekend: The Tissington Trail Half Marathon.

A number of our runners took part in the Saturday and Sunday races. Conditions were excellent on both days, and all those taking part enjoyed the course, which started in the village of Parsley Hay and finished back in Ashbourne, from where they were transported by coach to the start line.

Keith Lowther was the first LRC runner home in the Saturday race, finishing in a 34th place in a PB time of 1:37:25. Next came Stephen Howard (1:49:37 – 84th), then Kim Leary (2:03:35 – 171st/71st female), Phil Gillingham (2:12:51 – 217th) and Kieren Brown, who finished in 2:32:46 (291st/168 female) in her return to competition.

On Sunday, only a couple of weeks after her success in the Great North Run (and on her birthday!) Ali Evans finished in 1:51:07 (82nd/22nd female – PB). She was followed home by Sonia Short (1: 57:04 – 112th/43rd female), Alan Miles (2:02:43 – 138th) and Jane Bradbury (254th/153rd female) and Charlotte Wesley (255th/154th female) both in their first half marathon races, in 2:32:15 and 2:32: 29 respectively.

Yellow vests were prominent at the Lichfield Half Marathon, which started at King Edward’s School, taking in Whittington and Fradley, before finishing back in the city, on Stowe Field. There was plenty of support around the route, and luckily the weather was kind, helping club members to record the following great performances:

3rd: Dan Floyd (1:14:36)
9th: Dan Turner (1:21:44)
21st: Dave Sanders (1:26:56)
4th: Konrad Wainana (1:28:48)
31st: Gareth Stubbs (1:30:42)
32nd: James Coombes (1:31:09)
36th: Phil Sutcliffe (1:33:42 – first in age category)
168th: Beckie Head-Stubbs (1:56:14 – 34th female)

It was a double celebration for Beckie; she received her place as a birthday present, and was delighted with her sub 2 hour finish!